Problem with outreg2 command after updating computer

[Philip Gigliotti]

Hello,

I updated my computer today and now when I run the outreg2 command to export tables to excel, stata produces the following error:

outreg2 using enrollmentinstrument.xls, stats(coef tstat)

file enrollmentinstrument.txt could not be opened
r(603);

I know this is a user written package, but perhaps someone can assist.

I'm running stata SE 14.2.

[Philip Gigliotti]

This is the error:
error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return code 603
file __________ could not be opened;
The file, although found, could not be opened. Check to see if
it is currently open in another application or, if it is a file
on your network, it is being used by another person. If it is
not in use, check to see if the file is in a directory where
you are allowed to create files.

[Richard Williams]

I suspect "If it is not in use, check to see if the file is in a directory where you are allowed to create files" indicates the problem. I've occasionally had problems where the directory I was trying to write to was a directory I couldn't write to. So I changed directories. If you've updated, then default directories or read/write permissions may have changed.

[William Lisowski]

I note that your command has using enrollmentinstrument.xls but the error message (and help outreg2) suggests that a text file is required. Perhaps this mismatch is causing the error?

If not, perhaps your working directory is no longer where it was before whatever you did that "updated your computer". Have you issued the pwd command from Stata's Command window to ensure that your working directory is in a place that should be writable by you?

[Philip Gigliotti]

I note that your command has using enrollmentinstrument.xls but the error message (and help outreg2) suggests that a text file is required. Perhaps this mismatch is causing the error?

If not, perhaps your working directory is no longer where it was before whatever you did that "updated your computer". Have you issued the pwd command from Stata's Command window to ensure that your working directory is in a place that should be writable by you?

I also upgraded to stata se yesterday and had to reinstall stata 14. it may be in a new directory. but I have always used the .xls suffix to write to an excel file and it has always worked before.

[Philip Gigliotti]

I suspect "If it is not in use, check to see if the file is in a directory where you are allowed to create files" indicates the problem. I've occasionally had problems where the directory I was trying to write to was a directory I couldn't write to. So I changed directories. If you've updated, then default directories or read/write permissions may have changed.

What would be a possible solution for this? I don't know very much about directories.

[Philip Gigliotti]

I fixed it with the following code:

mkdir C:\Results
cd C:\Results

I'm not satisfied with this though as I don't want to have to work in an isolated directory. I want it to run like it used to out of my normal directory.

[William Lisowski]

Without knowing what your normal directory is, there's not much we can comment on.

[Richard Williams]

Just do something like

cd c:\statadata

or some other directory that you have (create one if necessary).

As William says, if you type

pwd

it will show you what your current working directory is. If I'm right, I bet it is the program files directory or the Windows directory. Windows whines if you write to such places and don't give administrator permission first.

If you're a Maccie, I don't know how exactly directories work, but I'm sure it can be done.

EDIT: Crossed with the last few messages

[Richard Williams]

I'm not satisfied with this though as I don't want to have to work in an isolated directory. I want it to run like it used to out of my normal directory

OK. just say

cd:\MyNormalDirectory

using whatever that directory is.

[Richard Williams]

Incidentally you should have set a default directory when you installed Stata. You may have changed it when you re-installed.

[Philip Gigliotti]

Thanks everyone for your advice

[Bertrand Ndang]

I also have an issue with generating outreg results, the error . outreg using c:Advemergingecon. doc
invalid 'doc'
r(198);
could any one please help?

best

[Nick Cox]

I see a space there before doc

If the space is really in your file extension you need " " around it.

I wouldn't put results files in the root of C: personally, but that's a different point.